Developing skills in the workplace

Scotland needs a workforce able to meet these challenges and to realise the opportunities that sit alongside it. We need a workforce that is confident, trained and equipped to deliver net-zero and circular economy solutions.

If we are to progress to a net-zero economy, people at all levels and in all sectors will need to learn to think differently. The type of skills and knowledge needed will be diverse but achieving them will allow businesses to grow, innovate, and compete internationally and public services to improve.

Zero Waste Scotland is leading the development of a Green Internship Scheme as part of the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan. This scheme aims to increase awareness and knowledge of net-zero and the circular economy, develop green skills and provide work experience opportunities for young people and graduates in sustainability whilst supporting businesses to transition to a greener, more sustainable economy.

In partnership, we have also developed continual professional development (CPD) resources and training modules in:

Developed in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University and Zero Waste Scotland these modules have been developed for Executive and Senior leaders who are currently working in the Built Environment industry in Scotland who would like to know more about the Circular Economy and Construction, national and international Circular Economy strategies, applying Circular Economy and Leadership thinking to your own organisations and identifying the skills required.

This is an exciting partnership project with Zero Waste Scotland, Skills Development Scotland and Lantra to develop opportunities combining sustainability-based activities and thinking whilst evidencing core skills as part of work-based learning.

The resources developed will support learners and assessors to evidence and assess core skills through identifiable net-zero activities as part of work-based learning, courses, or apprenticeships and can be evidenced at both Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework levels 4 and 5.

These resources will introduce the learner and assessor to sustainability considerations within the context of the ‘real world’. This includes the consideration of how their skills can play an important role in being able to adapt to a sustainable future.

Developed with the City of Glasgow College our circular economy net-zero modules are designed for small to medium-sized businesses to develop an understanding of net-zero and the circular economy.

Our modules will help your business achieve net-zero through improved resource efficiency and environmental performance through workplace training, policy implementation, and sustainable procurement and supply chains.

The Green Champions training course is a free CPD certified online training course for businesses based in Scoltand. Written by resource efficiency experts, each short Green Champions training module packs in knowledge and experience that will accelerate your understanding of the benefits of resource efficiency and help save money too. 

SWITCH (Scottish Waste Industry Training, Competency, Health & Safety) is a multi-partnership forum made up of organisations across all sectors within the resource management industry.